Spark indicator and controller



Aug. 14, 1934. A. A. Guzu-:L Er Al.

SPARK INDICATOR AND CONTROLLER Filed June 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l @WAN/ INvE-Nrons M MN ' ATTORNEY Aug. 14, 1934. A, A. GuzlEL Er AL SPARK INDICATOR AND CONTROLLER I Filed June 3, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.7

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. lll, 1934 SPARK liNDlCATOR AND CNTROLLER Alexander A. Guziel and Arnold Korir,

Hollywood, Calif.

The present invention relates in general to spark controlling and indicating means for internal combustion engines and more particularly to a spark indicating detector for automobiles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and eicient spark detecting device which visibly indicates the action of each individual spark plug oi an engine and which may readily and easily be attachedto the instrument board of an automobile for continuous observation from the iront seat thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spark plug detecting device with adjustable means for intensifying the sparking action of the plugs thus temporarily securing satisfactory running conditions until a defective plug can be conveniently replaced or repaired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spark plug detecting device of the kind referred to above, having sparking gaps correspending to the individual spark gaps for each o the spark plugs of the engine, the sparking gaps of the detector being connected in series with the spark plugs, and provided with means to enlarge or decrease their spark gaps, and thus correspondingly intensify the sparking of the plugs.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the construction. and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated, in the accompanying drawings, rand pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of con- `struction Within the scope of the claims may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit o the invention.

In the drawings, wherein We have shown an exemplified form of the spark controlling and indicating device according to the invention:

Figure l is a front elevation of the spark controlling and detecting device to be used with specially constructed spark plugs;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of one of the spark plugs to be used with the device shown in Figures l and 2;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a modified spark controlling and detecting device to be used with the common spark plug;

Figure 5 is a sectional View on line 5--5 of Figure 4.;

Figure 6 is a view of an electrical diagram showing the hook up of the spark controlling and detecting device according to Figures l and 2 with the' ignition circuit of an automobile; and

Figure 7 is a View of an electrical diagram showing the hook up oi the spark controlling and. detecting device according to Figures i and 60 l 5 with the ignition circuit of an automobile.

The spark controlling'and detecting device A illustrated in Figures l and 2 is designed for indicating and controlling spark plug action of a sixcylinder engine. For such purpose a circular hard rubber or bakelite base plate 2, carrying six contact members 3, equally spaced from each other about the axis of the plate is suitably mounted upon the instrument board l of an automobile, not shown. Contact members 3 extend through 'Ill the hase plate 2 and are threadedly connected their inner ends to hollow tubular' contact members or connecting tubes 5 adapted to irictionally embrace and support metal contact shoes 6, which shoes are sleeved upon and electrically connected with lead wires '7 for the spark plugs 8, see Figure 6. Nuts 60 positioned in countersunk portions of base plate 2 are employed to secure the contact members 3 to the base plate. The outer ends of contact members 3 project beyond the face of base 80 plate 2, and thence through a cover plate 61 of insulating material for cooperation with a corresponding number of electrical contact members 9, rotatably arranged with respect to the base plate. Thus contact'members 9, integrally formed with 85 or mounted upon the periphery of a metal plate le, extend through the circumferential flange 10 of a manually operable disk il, rotatably mounted on the cover plate by means of a threaded stem l2,

disk 1l being recessed at its inner iaceto accom 90 f modate plate lll. Metal plate le, contacts with stem 12, which stem extends through aligned central openings 13 in base plate 2, cover plate 6l, metal vplate 14, and operating disk 1l, and carries at its end a tubular contact member 16 adapted to 95 be electrically connected with the lead Wire 13 of the coil C of the ignition system of an automobile, see Figure 6.

The spark plugs 8 used with a device as described above are preferably of the type shown in Figure 3 and include two electrodes 17 and 18 embedded inaporcelain core 19, in turn rigidly mounted in the 'externally threaded metal shell or casing 2i) for screw connection with the cylinder block (not shown). The lower ends of the electrodes l'l and 18 extend through the bottom ace 2l of core i9 to form the spark gap 31, and at their upper ends extend into insulated cap member 63 Where they are attached to laterally disposed posts 23 and 24 respectively, which posts carry 110 lsigned for a six cylinder engine.

cular hard rubber vor bakelite base plate 32 carthumb nuts 25, 26 for making electrical connections through wires 64.

The control and detecting device A is connected in series with all the spark plugs 8, see Figure 6 wherein the ignition circuit of an automobile is diagrammatically shown. This circuit includes a battery B, a coil C, a distributor D, the spark plugs 8 and the spark controlling and detecting device A. When in operation the current flows from battery B through coil C, which coil as generally known changes the low voltage currentto a high tension current. This current then flows through lead wire 13 into distributor D and is in succession and timely distributed to the respective spark plugs 8, and thence to the respective contact members 3 of detecting device A. andnally, after jumping the visible sparking gaps 65 between contact members 3 through the ground (the motor body not shown) back to coil C. The extent of gaps 65 can be readily regulated by rotating disk ll in an appropriate direction, a knob or handle 3e being formed on the disk for thisy purpose, it cf course being understood that any increase inthe width of sparking gaps of the detector will result in a corresponding increase in the intensity of the spark at the plug gaps 3l. readily adjust the sparks of spark plugs 3 to the desired intensity while observing proper functioning of his plugs and thus prevent missing of one or more cylinders due to accumulation of carbon and oil at the points of one or more plugs. Ir" desired he may start Vhis machine with intensified sparks and thereafter when the engine is warmed up reduce the intensity of the sparks. The action of the ignition circuit may be under continuous observation, or if so desired the controlling device may be short circuited by turning disk 11 until Contact members 3 and 9 engage each other so that sparking at the controlling device is eliminated.

The controlling and detecting device may also be used to start the engine by creating an explosion in that cylinder which is ready for the ignition spark and the spark plug of which at this time has been switched into the ignition circuit by the distributor of the engine. Thus, by turning disk 1l shortly before switching oi the engine until contact members 3 hit stop member 52 the gaps between Contact members 3` and 9r are widely opened and therefore no sparking canoccur. Coil C will then become loaded and will act as a loaded condenser. Rotation of disk ll in `an opposite direction to'that just described decreases the resist- 'ance between contact members 3 and 9 and causes the spark plug of that cylinder which is ready for firing, to fire when the ignition is switched on. Of course this method or"V starting the engine is not possible when the engine is very cold.

A controlling and detecting `device similar in principle to the device A may be used with the standard spark plugs now generally in use. Such a device is disclosed in Figures 4 and 5 which show a controlling and detecting device G also de- Thus the cirries six contact members 33 equally spaced from each other about the axis of said base plate and and Contact members 9 passesY The operator may therefore electrically connected with their rearwardly extending ends to hollow tubular contact members 34, for connection with lead wires 35. The forwardly extending ends of contact members 33 are rectangularly oiset at 36 and extend radially toward the axis of base plate 32. A top plate 37 of less diameter than base plate 32 is seated upon said base plateand is pivotally connected therewith by means of a screw threaded shaft 38, rigidly mounted upon top plate 37 and extended through an opening 39 in base plate 32. A nut 41 holds the two plates in rotatable engagement with respect to each other. Top plate 37 carries a corresponding number of contact members 43 rigidlymounted therein. The rearwardly extending ends oi members 43 carry and are electrically connected with hollow tubular contact members 44 for connection with lead wires 45, and the forwardly extending ends of said oontact members 43 are rectangularly oiset at 4S and extend radially away from the axis of top plate 37, sc that the offset, portions 36 and 46 may be brought into alignment with each other or laterally shifted with respect to each other, elongated curved slots 43 Vin base plate 32 being provided to permit a limited rotatable movement between the two disks 32 and 37.

The controland detecting device just described is connected in series with all spark plugs, see Figure 7 diagram which shows an ignition circuit similar to that shown in Figure 6.

When in operation the current flows from battery B through coil C', from which coil a high tension current ows through lead 50, through distributor D and thence in succession and timely, according to the position of distributor contaots, to the respective' contact members 33, 43 of controlling and detecting device G, thence to the respective spark plugs H and finally through the ground (the motor body not shown) back to coil C. Rotation yof disk 37 by means of its knob 5l regulates the spacing of the gaps between contact members or points 33, 34 of device G and the intensity of the spark at the plug gaps, in a manner similar to the operations of the preierred form ofthe invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

A spark controlling and testing device for intensifying and visibly indicating the successive sparking of the spark plugs of internal combustionengines, comprising a round base plate of insulating material, a plurality of contact members symmetrically secured to said base plate, a

Vflanged disk of insulating material axially rotatably secured to said base plate, a metal plate seated within said flanged4 disk, lateral nnger portions on said metal platel radially extending through openings in the ange of said disk for cooperation and alignment with said contact members, said contact members and extensions being adapted to form variable spark gaps in a circuit, and means for connecting said contact members and said metal plate with the ignition circuit of an automobile.

ALEXANDER A. GUZIEL. ARNOLDr KORFF.

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